debbiesnyder1

Never Hunger Again

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 02:20:56 GMT

Never Hunger Again

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"

John 6:35 NIV

God's Word is alive! It's amazing how we can read scripture and have a particular understanding of it, then after some time read it again and have a different understanding and awareness. This happened to me while re-reading John 6:22-40 recently in a Bible study I lead and I thought to share what the Spirit of God revealed to me.

This group of scripture is subtitled, "Jesus is the True Bread from Heaven". In these scriptures Jesus criticized some people who followed Him because they were only interested in the physical and temporal benefits He offered. Because I'm a believer that the Bible is a mirror, (when read, your true self is reflected), I asked myself, Do I do that? Of course I do! I would be kidding myself to think I don't. Being "religious" offers a way to feel better about oneself which is self-centered motivation. A true believer follows Jesus simply because they believe He has the Truth and the key to life's ultimate purpose and meaning. The people who witnessed Jesus turn 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into enough food to feed thousands, went to Capernaum shortly after witnessing this miracle in search for Jesus and His disciples. After searching they found Him and ask, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" . Jesus answered the question in a way only He could..... "Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." What did Jesus mean by this? He was saying that some people followed him because they were only interested in the physical and temporal benefits he offered and not the satisfying of their spiritual hunger. People eat bread, and meat, and potatoes, and fruit, and vegetables, and ice cream, and candy, (you can fill in the blank), to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life only with the right relationship with Jesus Christ. Bread, and meat, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, ice cream candy, etc, etc, etc, must be eaten , but Jesus must be invited into our daily lives to satisfy our hungry souls.

So how do we begin to build a right relationship with Jesus Christ? Well, rather than tell you how, I can share how I built a right relationship with Jesus Christ. It all started with believing He is whom God sent. How did I do that? I read the Book of John. Pleasing God doesn't come from the work I do but rather from Whom I believe. We all have plenty to do to serve Him, this is true, but the first step involves accepting that Jesus' claims are true. Then, we can build our spiritual lives on this foundational affirmation. Pray and declare to Jesus, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God", and embark on a life of belief that is satisfying to your Creator and incredibly fulfilling to you. John 6:29 says - " Jesus answered 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent". A right relationship with Jesus is built on BELIEF .

Serve One Another

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:04:49 GMT

Serve One Another

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

John 13:14-15 NIV

What does it look like to serve others? What does scripture have to say about serving?

Jesus has given us 2 primary commands:

Matthew 22:37-40 - “ Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus desires for us to love Him and He desires for us to love others by serving. Service will typically require us to go out of our comfort zones. It’s not easy! Jesus powerfully proclaims the urgency to serve in Matthew 20:26-28 - “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

During Jesus’ time here on earth, He gave us a beautiful picture of what it looks like to serve by modeling it Himself. Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet. He then proceeded to explain to them, “If I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you” , John 13:14,15 . Something pretty cool I noticed while searching for scripture……isn’t it symbolic how the numbers to these scriptures follow one another: 13,14, and 15 and Jesus is saying in these scriptures that we should follow His example! In 2 Corinthians 5:15 Paul writes, “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again”.

It’s such a blessing that we get to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by loving and serving others. People are called to serve in different ways. Serving primarily involves moving toward people and meeting their needs in a way that brings glory to our Father in Heaven. I know for myself, I often fall into the trap of serving others in ways I want to be served. I'm certainly a work in progress and pray as each year passes, by the grace of God, I look for opportunities to serve other people the way they need to be served. During the season that’s upon us, a season of giving, let’s not forget one of Jesus’ most important commands, to serve one another. It’s important that we seek to see people as Jesus does and love them well.

How are you being led to serve and love others today?

True Freedom

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:00:25 GMT

True Freedom

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”

John 8:32 NIV

As I'm leading a study in the Book of John, I felt it was time to take a pause and meditate on this verse, because honestly, it jumped off the pages of my Bible and pierced my heart.

I get 2 take-aways from this verse:

First take-away - Jesus is saying there is “A Truth”.

We live in a culture where there is

“the” Truth,

“relative” truth,

and “your” truth.

Truth can be misconstrued in our day and age. I have a tendency to do things my way, to live on my own accord, to march by the beat of my own drum. Basically to live life in a way according to my own standards. But Jesus says that’s not really the way life works. There's actually a right way we're to live our lives, and Jesus says the right way is His way. He says it himself in another scripture, John 14:6 - “I am the way, the Truth and the life” . The truth is ultimately found in Jesus, the truth is found in the Word of God, and there is one truth and one right way to live our life.

Second take-away - He also takes it a step further and doesn’t just end by saying there is a truth we all ought to know, but He says there is actually a reward for living by that truth. When we live by the truth of God’s Word, with our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, it ultimately leads to true freedom.

*freedom from sin

*freedom from shame

*freedom from regret

*freedom from your past

*freedom from addiction

*freedom from bondage

Scripture says that freedom is ultimately found in the person of Jesus. He is the Truth and when we follow His truth we find life and freedom.

Beware though, because this verse has been known to be taken out of context. It's written on many of the great badges and symbols of American universities. What they're referring to is academic truth, when you know "academic" truth, you will be set free. That's not what Jesus means. What He means is the Truth about Him will set you free. It's specifically about Him. How do I know this? John 8:36 says, "therefore, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed". That's the context, it's the truth about the Son, nothing about academic truth. Someone could be very smart, but at the same time be locked in eternal bondage.

So what do we do with all this and how do we apply it to our lives? As a Christian Life Coach, I would suggest 2 things:

We continue to learn the truth of God’s Word. The more we do that, the more we know His Truth.
We walk by His Truth. We follow His Word and as we do, we experience the reward of freedom that is found in our Savior Jesus Christ.

Keeping Christ in Christmas

wordandwellness1@gmail.com (Debbie Snyder) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:19:16 GMT

Keeping Christ in Christmas

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” ~ Matthew 23:11-12

If you were to shout the first thing that came to mind when asked, what does Christmas mean to you, what would you say? Years ago my answer undoubtedly would have been gifts, and being very honest, gifts would mean the gifts I would be receiving. Sure, it’s a blessing when friends and family exchange gifts with one another, it’s an act of love and generosity, but if we were to dig into scripture to learn what Christmas represents, the word serve would probably be one of the top 10.

Since Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, it should be about honoring and focusing on Christ. So I ask, who is Jesus Christ to you? Since we’re not sitting in a coffee shop dialoguing with one another, I’ll share my answer to that question here in this blog. Jesus Christ came to this earth for a multitude of reasons, but one that stands out to me is to serve. He was the ultimate Servant. To back up that statement, Matthew 20:28 reads, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

A beautiful example of this truth is in the Book of John ~

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them". (John 13:12-17).

This act of service was to be a model. The servant is no greater than the master, so if the master was willing to subject Himself to others, then the servants need to willingly do the same. As followers of Jesus, we need to recognize that God is looking for servants who are willing to make sacrifices to take care of others. Don’t you agree that in these times of tremendous need, we should have no trouble to provide an answer to the question, “What did you GIVE for Christmas this year"?

Keeping Christ in Christmas is a pretty popular slogan and as a Life Coach, I encourage you to stop for a moment and ask yourself…What does that mean to me? Or better yet, What does that mean to Jesus?

I’m going to stop right here so you can ponder for a while…..

Merry Christmas!

Debbie

What Are You Doing With Your Dash?

wordandwellness1@gmail.com (Debbie Snyder) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 23:52:47 GMT

What Are You Doing With Your Dash?

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure”.

Psalm 39:4-5

I was once asked the question, “What are you doing with your dash?” My dash I thought….I had no clue what that meant. I later learned that it’s a phrase used when someone is asking, “what are you doing with your life?” We all know that a tombstone shows a person’s name, their birthdate, “a dash” , and when they died. Don’t you think it’s interesting that your whole life, from the time you’re born to the time you die, comes down to a dash? It really made me think……

What AM I doing with my dash?

Am I doing all that my heart desires?

Am I making a difference in the world?

Am I loving people well?

Am I the wife my husband needs?

Am I a good example to my daughters whom God entrusted me with?

Serious questions yes, but when I thought long and hard, I can’t honestly say I was happy with all my answers. The following question I asked myself was, “So what’s holding you back from being the person you want to be, Deb”?

Is it a lack of confidence?

Is it a lack of trust in God?

Or maybe it’s a matter of time, resources, or lack of talent.

Whatever the reason, I needed to take inventory and evaluate what was holding me back and if it’s worth the effort to make changes in my life that will help achieve what I was designed to be.

So here’s a secret I learned from Psalm 37:4 - “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in their presence. This can only happen when we know that person well and when we have been a faithful friend. So, to delight in the Lord, we must get to know Him better and be faithful in our relationship with Him. The certainty of His great love for us will then give us delight.

I misunderstood the meaning of this scripture. A self-centered way to misunderstand the meaning of Psalm 37:4 is……If I take delight in the Lord, He will give me everything “I” want, similar to a “genie in a bottle” approach - rub the bottle, ask what I want, and voila, IT’S MINE!

The more I studied this scripture, God showed me the true meaning. The one who truly delights in the Lord will find their heart and desires changed , aligning with God’s good and perfect desires for their life. He will place His desires in our heart when we find delight and draw near to Him. God showed me that finding delight in Him is the key to a happy, satisfied life……Or maybe I should say, finding delight in God is the key to a happy, satisfied DASH!

The Good Old Days

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 18:28:31 GMT

The Good Old Days

“Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy, in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works, and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land”

Psalm 143:1-6

Sometimes our minds run back through the years, and in doing so, we yearn for that better time and place…….you know, “the good old days” . But for some, the past harbors only bitter, fearful, or resentful memories. Failures, disillusions and fantasies are pondered and thoughts of the cruel hand life has dealt overwhelm the mind. It’s better to remember the past as David did by contemplating the good that God has done – to “meditate on all His works.....consider what His hands have done” (Psalm 143:5). As we call to mind the lovingkindness of the Lord, we can see His blessings through the years in our own lives. This practice brings forth a deep longing for more of God and more of His tender care the Bible often promises, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”- (1 Peter 5:7). This practice also transforms the past into a place of fellowship and connection with our Lord, building on a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. My prayer is that your memories and meditations will draw you into His presence, a place where bitterness, fearfulness or resentment does not exist.

God Rescues Us

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:52:32 GMT

God Rescues Us

“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55:16-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

David wrote freely about his circumstances: oppression, violence, and strife surrounded him on all sides. Fear and terror, pain and trembling, anxiety and restlessness overwhelmed him. Is it any wonder he longed to escape from his circumstances and cry out for rescue? But escape was impossible. He could not avoid his situation. His only option for true rescue was to give them to God: "As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice" (Psalm 55:16-17).

Whatever our circumstances may be---health issues, financial pressures, relationship

problems---we can give them to God and place the power to change them into His hands. He has lifted the burden of our sins so why would we question that He wouldn't lift the weight of our circumstances? If we have trusted Him with our eternal souls, can we not trust our current circumstances to Him? "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22)

What's Your Passion?

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 15:59:08 GMT

What's your passion?

“Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭20:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever made a dream board? I added one above so you could have a visual of what one looks like. They're effective in motivating people to continue working to build their success so someday they will be able to afford the things they're passionate for. I once got together with a group of business partners to make our personal dream boards. It’s effective to visually have a picture in your mind of what you're passionate for so it gives you a reason to wake up in the morning and go to work. I understand this because I thought those "passions", once materialized, would bring happiness and fulfillment to my own life. I found I was right….but temporarily. Those who trust in things apart from God, “Are brought to their knees and fall”, according to the psalmist (Psalm 20:8).

We were made for God and nothing else will do—a truth we validate in our experiences every day. We buy this or that because we think "things" will make us happy, but like a child receiving a dozen Christmas presents or more, we ask ourselves, “Is this all?” Something is always missing.

Nothing this world has to offer—even very good things—fully satisfies us. There is a measure of enjoyment in them, but our happiness soon fades away, (1 John 2:17). Indeed, “God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself “

CS Lewis concluded. “There is no such thing.”